GOALKEEPERS
KASEY KELLER
Age: 28
College: University of Portland
Club: Leicester City (England)
Role: The only player whose starting status is completely secure, the phlegmatic Keller combines a cool head and impeccable reflexes. A world-class player by any standard.
BRAD FRIEDEL
Age: 27
College: UCLA
Club: Liverpool (England)
Role: This Cleveland native finally achieved his dream of playing in the Premier League, but he’s likely to watch his second straight World Cup from the bench.
JUERGEN SOMMER
Age: 29
College: Indiana University
Club: Columbus Crew (MLS)
Role: Unlikely to see action.
DEFENDERS
THOMAS DOOLEY
Age: 37
College: none
Role: Columbus Crew (MLS)
Outlook: The ageless, elegant, universally respected U.S. captain is the team’s air traffic controller, organizing from his sweeper’s vantage point and frequently preventing crashes.
EDDIE POPE
Age: 24
College: University of North Carolina
Club: D.C. United (MLS)
Role: The most gifted player to emerge from the U.S. college ranks in the last four years and a stalwart for the two-time MLS champions.
MIKE BURNS
Age: 27
College: Hartwick College
Club: N. E. Revolution (MLS)
Role: Has mutated from workmanlike to overachiever in the last three years. Could force his way into the starting lineup despite hype over nouveau-American David Regis.
DAVID REGIS
Age: 29
College: none
Club: Karlsruher (Germany)
Role: Longtime French pro became a naturalized citizen last month. Has the speed and skills to play man-marker, wide or defensive midfield positions.
JEFF AGOOS
Age: 30
College: University of Virginia
Club: D.C. United (MLS)
Role: A workhorse who logged more minutes in qualifying than any other player, probably will be the first defender off the bench. Especially valuable serving the ball on set pieces.
ALEXI LALAS
Age: 28
College: Rutgers University
Club: New York/New Jersey MetroStars (MLS)
Role: The face of U.S. soccer’s Mount Rushmore is shorn of locks and, recently, of starting slot. Could be shut out if Sampson sticks with 3-6-1 alignment.
MARCELO BALBOA
Age: 30
College: San Diego State
Club: Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Role: The most-capped player (126) in U.S. history, Balboa shares the predicament of fellow central defender Lalas, although his greater versatility and scoring ability could serve him well.
MIDFIELDERS
CHAD DEERING
Age: 27
College: Indiana University
Club: VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)
Role: Quietly effective Deering looked as if he would be shunted aside until he dropped a dime on Sampson in March. He slotted neatly into the defensive midfield and could start.
BRIAN MAISONNEUVE
Age: 24
College: Indiana University
Club: Columbus Crew (MLS)
Role: One of three (with Pope and Hejduk) U.S. players with no foreign-club experience, he could be paired with Deering in defensive midfield. Skilled at holding and distributing the ball.
FRANKIE HEJDUK
Age: 23
College: UCLA
Club: Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS)
Role: Former high school surfing champion is still a raw talent but speed and doggedness make him a strong candidate for the flank — if he recuperates from a sore hamstring.
COBI JONES
Age: 28
College: UCLA
Club: Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Role: The team’s biggest enigma. Jones has all the moves, from flashes of excellence to a periodic disappearing act. Has to work both ends on the wing if the 3-6-1 formation is to work.
ERNIE STEWART
Age: 29
College: none
Club: NAC Breda (Holland)
Role: Speedy and capable of scoring from either the wing or interior midfield as a withdrawn forward. Has a hot head that earns him more than his share of yellow cards.
PREKI RADOSAVLJEVIC
Age: 34
College: none
Club: Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Role: His juke-and-jive creates instant offense off the bench. He wants 90 minutes, but Sampson has held to his assertion that the Yugoslavian-born veteran isn’t an end-to-end player.
TAB RAMOS
Age: 31
College: North Carolina State
Club: New York/New Jersey MetroStars (MLS)
Role: Has survived three potentially career-ending injuries (fractured eye socket and two torn ACLs) in the last four years and is vying for a starting spot.
CLAUDIO REYNA
Age: 24
College: University of Virginia
Club: VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)
Role: Sampson has made Reyna the hub of his system. Will need to ratchet up his mental and physical toughness and play the way he does in the Bundesliga to live up to his billing.
JOE-MAX MOORE
Age: 27
College: UCLA
Club: New England Revolution (MLS)
Role: Hard working and oft-injured attacking midfielder seems forever on the verge of a breakthrough as a consistent offensive threat.
FORWARDS
BRIAN McBRIDE
Age: 25
College: St. Louis University
Club: Columbus Crew (MLS)
Role: The best of the team’s three strikers in the air, he badly wants to show that he can score at the top level. The forward situation is so fluid, that it’s hard to tell how much time he’ll get.
ROY WEGERLE
Age: 34
College: University of South Florida
Club: Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS)
Role: The reserved, graceful native of South Africa is at the tail end of a distinguished career. Still capable despite his age and multiple knee surgeries.
ERIC WYNALDA
Age: 29
College: San Diego State
Club: San Jose Clash (MLS)
Role: Remains the most proven scoring quantity on the team, although injuries over the last two years have limited his output. A big-game player.
